Power Descriptions:
Were someone to witness the process of Christian’s actualization, they would see a shimmer surround the young man, only for him to be replaced by his heroic identity, as the psychic energy required for the transformation washes over the observer.This emotional bleed causes the observer’s perceptions of Christian to meld into that of his heroic nature, Pinnacle.When Christian self actualizes his heroic nature, he transform into an idealized version of himself.Mature, charismatic and almost superhumanly self confident, his nature, his pinnacle, is preternaturally powerful, resilient, and enduring.

History:

Christian was born to Claire Johnson & Tyler Caswell, in mid August, Southside General, Freedom City, NJ.Claire was a strong woman, who raised her son with a stern, but loving pragmatism, but Tyler was largely absent from their lives, returning to their lives intermittently, for a number of weeks or months, before departing again.These brief reconciliations were often accompanied by extravagant gestures, and when Tyler was once again gone, it left both Christian and his mother with doubts and uncertainties. Claire turned towards her faith during these periods of anger, doubt and confusion, a deeply religious woman, she would accept no disobedience from her son or involvement in activities which could lead him down the nebulous path of his often absent father.

When Christian was 7 years old, he clearly remembers the night when AEGIS raided the Southside Projects where the family lived.It was the first time Christian observed his father’s abilities, the ability to control and manipulate a subject’s emotions, to dominate them.This allowed Tyler to dominate the first few officer’s as they made their way into the projects.The wave of fear, despair, and despondency washed over Christian and his mother during the encounter, however, the second team was equipped with devices that allowed them to withstand the emotional backlash, finally apprehending and arresting Christian’s father.Claire vowed to never expose herself, or her son, to Tyler’s manipulations again, and so uprooted the family before the trial moving herself and her son to the opposite side of the country, relocating to Emerald City, OR.

Claire found an apartment for herself and her son in Bethlehem Heights, working a large number of part time, and seasonal jobs, she eventually secured a position with Majestic Industries, as a warehouse manager.She put in long hours at the warehouse, and so Christian became largely self sufficient, cooking meals and cleaning their tiny two bedroom in the Heights.However, he looked forwards to Sundays with his mother, St James Cathedral in Royal Hill, lunch at Overlook Park, and a walk through the Yellow Brick Row.

A few years later, as Christian was graduating Grade 8, his mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.Less than a year later she had passed away from her illness, during that time Christian relied on Father Gordon’s goodwill and the charity of the Parish.With no legal guardians, Christian was entered into the custody of the Child Protective Services, eventually being placed with a new foster family during his first year of High School.

The Kline family, also parishioners of St James Cathedral, opened their home to the young man, he was at first reluctant, but due to the devoted nature of Issac, the father of the family, as well as the welcoming nature of the younger Kline sisters, he has opened up to the well meaning family.Issac works as an Investment Banker, for one of the many MarsTech subsidiaries, while Therese is a Marketing consultant who works from home, while raising her two daughters, Janaina and Madison.

In early March, during a Grade 9 & 10 field trip to Joint Base Clark-Gordon a logging truck drifted over the meridian of the Bay Bridge, side swiping the Elysium Hills school bus.The driver swerved, the bus rolled through the barricades and hung precariously over the cold waters of Mallory Bay.Christian watched in horror as his sister, Janaina slide towards the rear of the bus, impacting solidly with the emergency exit.The glass spider webbed, and she plunged through, while he himself was overwhelmed with a sense of calm, he released his hold falling through the self same window.

As the wind whistled past his ears, he felt a sense of purpose, of clarity that he had never experienced before, and suddenly he was accelerating past his sister’s stunned form.Christian reached out, pulling her to his chest, and mere feet from the surface of the water he stopped, hovering.His physical form had altered, changed.He was no longer Christian Johnson-Kline, he was Pinnacle.

Personality & Motivation:

Given his difficult childhood, Christian is a young man with singular focus and determination, much of which can be credited to his upbringing among the Kline family.Initially sullen and rebellious, with the care and concern of his foster parents, and not a little coaxing by their two daughters, he developed into a responsible young man.Upon discovering his abilities, he managed to prevent a bus full of his Elysium High peers from plunging into the frigid waters of Mallory Bay, and following the example set by his parents decided to use his powers selflessly.He decided to continue using his abilities for the betterment of his fellow man, to safeguard them, to inspire them.His work ethic extends to his heroic identity as well, as he attempts to learn the skills and procedures that would aid him in providing support to emergency services such as fire, ambulance and police.

Powers & Tactics:
While Christian is unaware of the nature of his abilities, he is aware that during times of crisis he can achieve a state where thought, will and action become one.In this, his pinnacle as he calls it, he has been observed to be highly resilient to physical damage, possesses superhuman strength and durability.He is, however, not a violent man, and typically will attempt to defuse a situation prior to engaging agitated, or hostile opposition, and to date he limited his activities to assisting Emerald City emergency services, fire and ambulance.He is aware that there may come a time where he is forced into a combat situation, and so has made the decision to try out for the Elysium Hills Wrestling Team, hoping that those skills will translate to his alter ego.

In truth, his abilities are inherited from his biological father, the ability to amplify emotional response, however, his ability seems to be somewhat limited in that he can only affect himself.This surge in confidence and conviction results in an actual metaphysical change in Christian, resulting in his heroic identity, and transformation into an idealized version of himself.

Complications:Disability:Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Christian suffered an ear infection as a child which affected his cochlea, or inner ear.This has resulted in permanent hearing loss.If Christian is in a scene without access to his ITC [In the Canal] hearing aid, any Hearing checks should be considered to be Deafened imposing a -4 Initiative penalty & unable to make a Spot (Hearing) check.Interestingly enough this disability does not affect Christian when he has entered his heroic, idealized state.

Honor:Raised Right

Christian’s foster parents instilled and developed a strong sense of right and wrong into the young man.Their unconditional support for him, their foster child, has renewed his faith in the love of family and the human spirit.

Since the discovery of his superhuman abilities, he has fought harder than ever to apply that code to his life, both in his civilian life and his heroic actions.His powers stem from his own self confidence, faith, and conviction, he is aware that changing the world is not always done on a grand scale, but more often through human connection; by being strong for someone in need, there for them, and courageous in the face of fear when they are most vulnerable.In combat Pinnacle will always prioritize civilians and innocents, clearing them from the area to ensure that they are unharmed in any coming confrontation, he will then attempt diplomacy, giving his opponents the opportunity to surrender peaceably.If forced to engage, he will attempt to minimize potential property damage, and remove the conflict from any major center of population.

Responsibility:Family values & work ethic

Christian loves and respects his foster parents, as well as his two younger sisters, and while he at first rebelled against them, he enjoys the structure that is provided by the family dinners that his parents insist upon.He is also heavily engaged at Elysium Hills High School where he has a role on student council, and as the captain of the debate club.His academic and extracurricular responsibilities, coupled with his family obligations and helping his father restore old furniture on the weekends has made it difficult for Christian to balance his heroic activities with his private life.

Secret:All this and a Hero too!

Given the physical transformation that occurs when Christian assumes his idealized form, maintaining his civilian identity has been effortless.However, he has discovered that there is a certain weight to maintaining that separation, and hiding his actions as Pinnacle from those he loves.He has confided in Janaina, the eldest of his two sisters, as she was on the school bus when it collided with the transport truck, and saw her older brother fall to his death.She maintains his secret now, but has repeatedly counselled Christian to tell her parents the truth, feeling that they would support his decisions.

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As pointed out by Fox, there's a free point floating around in the Container that can't be banked; and in a Discord discussion, someone mentioned that Endurance would grant Pinnacle a +17 Fort save versus certain environmental conditions which would break PL10 caps. So I got rid of the Endurance feat, and added a full Suite of Environmental Immunities, and changed the Half Effect limit to cover all aspects, both Fatigue & Environmental Immunities.

Also changed the formatting, and fixed the geographical error, as Emerald Cities South Shores district is in Oregon, not Washington.